Seal Beach naval base learns to deal with a rampage

U.S. Navy sailors locate an "active shooter," played by Jason McCowan, 25, during Exercise Citadel Shield, a security drill that is being carried out at naval installations throughout the United States.MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The rules were simple: Security officers at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach were to enter the building, find the shooter and neutralize him. Tend to the victims after.

It was a training exercise with real-world applications all too familiar to the American public.

As part of the Navy’s weeklong training, Exercise Citadel Shield, undertaken by every base in the continental United States, the naval station performed an “active shooter response” exercise Tuesday in which the base’s security personnel responded to a call of someone going on a rampage.

Military bases conduct all sorts of security exercises year-round. But active shooter simulations have become particularly notable of late, with the country still coping with a series of mass shootings in Newtown, Conn.; Aurora, Colo.; and, more acutely for those in the military, such as the one at Fort Hood. The November 2009 massacre at the Texas military base left 13 dead and 42 wounded.

"This is something that we have been training more for in recent years," said Seal Beach base spokesman Gregg T. Smith. "Especially after Fort Hood and over the last few years, (active shooter exercises) have taken on greater significance."

The security sailors approach an active shooter situation much the way a police department's SWAT team would.

During Tuesday's exercise, three security patrolmen entered the dark facility where they were told a shooter had killed at least one victim and possibly others. In less than a minute, they tracked down the shooter, shot him and handcuffed him. Then they helped the victims get outside, where the base's fire department conducted a medical response drill.

Crisis resolved.

"This is to make sure the guys remember what they are supposed to remember," said Steve Hill, training officer for security at the Naval Weapons Station. "They did OK. They weren't supposed to get so distracted by the victims. But overall they did a pretty good job."

A second group of three also underwent the exercise. The second group was better, Hill said.

The operation was meant to be as realistic as possible. The personnel who responded were actually patrolling the base when they received the call from Hill. They raced to the building under mock siege and prepared to enter.

Before they did, however, they had to switch out their weapons for modified 9 mm pistols that use non-lethal ammunition similar to paintballs.

Once they entered the building, they were supposed to listen for the shots and go toward them, according to Hill. In a real-life situation, each round fired by the shooter could result in a casualty, Hill said, so the officers must stop him as quickly as possible – within 20 seconds is the goal.

"There are preplanned responses that they need to follow," said Lt. Chris Ambrosi, head of security for the Naval Weapons Station, noting that even though the officers were aware it was only an exercise, they had to approach the simulation as if it were real. "You train like you fight and fight like you train."

If this had been a real rampage, at least one person would have been pleased with the results.

"I survived," said Mercedes Mendoza, a civilian who works on the base and one of the three people pretending to be caught in the building. "I think they did a good job."

For only the second time, the Naval Weapons Station allowed reporters to witness the training, a way of showing the public the base's preparedness, Smith said. The first time reporters were allowed to witness the training exercise was February 2011.

"In this day and age, security is definitely a concern for the public," he said "It is important that people know what goes on here."

Related Links

U.S. Navy sailors locate an "active shooter," played by Jason McCowan, 25, during Exercise Citadel Shield, a security drill that is being carried out at naval installations throughout the United States. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Seal Beach firefighters assess the injuries of the "victims" after the sailors complete Exercise Citadel Shield by locating and disabling the "active shooter." MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
U.S. Navy sailors wait to trade out their active duty weapons for 9mm training pistols that fire paintball-like rounds instead of live ammunition. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sailors at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station hold down the "active shooter," played by civilian federal officer Jason McCown, 25, during Exercise Citadel Shield. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sailors are debriefed on their performance during Exercise Citadel Shield at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station on the afternoon of Feb. 26, 2013. Small teams of sailors were charged with the task of navigating a dark building with flashlights to locate an "active shooter" without being sidetracked by "victims" along the way. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
U.S. Navy sailors struggle to evade "victims" and focus on the task of locating the "active shooter" during a security drill held at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. Exercise Citadel Shield is the largest drill of its kind and will be conducted at naval installations throughout the United States. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
U.S. Navy sailors don face masks and neck wraps to protect them from any errant rounds fired their way. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Seal Beach firefighters assess the injuries of the "victims" after the sailors complete Exercise Citadel Shield by locating and disabling the "active shooter." Exercise Citadel Shield is the largest security drill being conducted by the U.S. Navy this year. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
"Victims" wait while Seal Beach firefighters examine their injuries and issue them a tag, indicating the severity of the damage they incurred during the security drill, Exercise Citadel Shield. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The sailors wore protective face masks and neck wraps and used hand-held flashlights to search the rooms of a dark building for an "active shooter." They were instructed to address the threat of the shooter first before rendering aid to the "victims" that approached them upon entry. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
David Randolf, 32, pictured left, guides sailors through the process of trading their active duty weapons for training pistols that are equipped with non-lethal 9mm rounds that have a consistency similar to paintballs. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sailors at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station receive feedback on their performance during Exercise Citadel Shield. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach holds a training drill which includes a series of simulated "shooter" exercises in a darkened building. The annual security event, Exercise Citadel Shield 2013, is conducted on naval bases and installations throughout the continental U.S., said spokesman Gregg Smith. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A bank of colored sirens adds to the drama during training at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach. Exercise Citadel Shield 2013, is a national annual training drill which is rarely opened to the media. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sailors take part in an "active shooter" drill at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach Monday. They were assessed on their performance that included several vicitms and a gunman roaming through a darkened building. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Fake blood adds to the authenticity of an annual drill at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach. The training exercise will run Monday through Friday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Master of arms first class Mark Schlom congratulates civilian "victim" Mercedes Mendoza after a drill at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach Monday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Naval Weapons Station holds its nationwide training drill this week, including a simulated "shooter" exercise at the station's security training facility in Seal Beach. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach takes part in Exercise Citadel Shield 2013, a nationwide training drill. Master at arms seaman apprentice Eddie Meneses looks for the "shooter" in a darkened building. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.